We are proud of our Victoria University (VU) students and alumni who will be competing at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gets underway 23 July and runs until 8 August 2021, followed by the Paralympics taking place from 24 August to 5 September 2021.
Get to know and support the ten current and past Victoria University student-athletes set to represent their country in:
Check out each of the athlete’s sport and education profiles below.
Sport: Athletics
Event: Marathon
University course:
VU alumna Liam Adams is set for his second Olympics and is one of VU’s most decorated student-athletes. With a prolific running career on the track, cross country and now the marathon event Liam represented VU at a number of national and international events and twice won the Australian University Sport Male Athlete of the Year, Liam continues his VU connection as a valued representative on the University’s Sport Awards committee.
Sport: Track cycling
Event: Keirin
University course:
Azizul Awang the “Pocket Rocket Man” a former world champion goes to his fourth Olympic Games representing Malaysia. Azizul commenced VU studies in 2015 and trains in Melbourne under Malaysian head coach John Beasley (a VU Bachelor of Sport Coaching (2015) alumna). Azizul made history and captured the imagination of a nation when he won bronze at Rio 2016, Malaysia’s first ever Olympic Games cycling medal.
Sport: Judo
Event: 70kg
University courses:
Making her Olympic debut, Aoife Coughlan is a current student and one of three siblings all elite Judokas studying at VU. With a very full sport schedule Aoife managed to complete a double degree in early 2021 and has already commenced another degree.
Sport: Para-table tennis
Event: Singles - Class 4
University course:
An incredible career Danni Di Toro is going to her seventh Paralympic Games, five times in wheelchair tennis and this will be her second campaign in para-table tennis. Danni also leads the Australian Paralympic team as co-captain for the second time. Her leadership further extends to being appointed Paralympics Australia’s Athlete Engagement and Wellbeing Officer in 2017, and Vice Chairperson of the Athlete Commission.
Sport: Shooting
Event: Pistol
University course:
Another recent graduate Sergei Evglevski goes to his first Olympic Games in Tokyo. A 2018 World University champion and Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Sergei had the honour of being selected flag bearer for the Australian team at the 2019 World Summer Universiade Napoli.
Sport: Para-athletics
Event: Shot put (F20)
University courses:
Todd "the Hulk" Hodgetts is a gold medal Paralympian, former world record holder, world champion and larger than life character. During his time studying Todd represented VU at the Australian University Games twice winning gold and one bronze medal. Other honours include receiving the Personal Excellence Award at the Victorian Institute of Sport Award of Excellence and being named 2015 Male Para Athlete of the Year by Athletics Australia.
Sport: Wheelchair-rugby
University course: Certificate IV in Disability CHC40312 (2014) - see Certificate IV in Disability CHC43115
Josh Hose OAM is a two time Paralympic gold medallist, representing the highly successful Australian Steelers Wheelchair rugby team going for their third consecutive gold in Tokyo.
Josh, a Footscray resident who trains at VU’s Aquatic and Fitness Centre, works as a Peer Support Project Officer, AQA VIC & Austin Health, Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, a rehabilitation facility for newly traumatic spinal injuries. Alongside peer support, Josh delivers a wheelchair skills program in the rehabilitation setting for those to learn the necessary skills of using a wheelchair. Josh was in a car accident in 2005 and took up wheelchair rugby as part of his own rehabilitation.
Sport: Table tennis
Event: Singles
University course:
VU alumnus and teacher David Powell competes at his second Olympic Games. As a student David competed at the World University Games and Commonwealth Games. For his 2018 Commonwealth Games campaign David was teamed with VU aluma and Sport Hall of Famer Miao Miao for the mixed doubles.
Sport: Artistic swimming (formerly synchronised swimming)
University course:
Emily Rogers commenced at VU already an Olympian, competing in Rio during year 12. Starting out in her first junior team with the Golden Fish Synchro club based at VU’s Aquatic Centre, Emily later joined as a swim teacher and excelled in the first year of her degree, winning VU’s Sporting and Academic Excellence Award. Emily re-located to Perth in 2019 with the national Synchronised Swim (now Artistic Swimming) program, in preparation for Tokyo.
Sport: Badminton
Event: Women’s doubles
University course:
Gronya Somerville, is making her Olympic debut. With the Tokyo 2020 postponement and other international events deferred, Gronya took the opportunity to finalise the remaining units of her degree graduating in early 2021.
Aoife Coughlan – judo
Gronya Somerville – badminton
Victoria University has a proud record of students and alumni competing at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
| Name | Sport | Olympic Games |
|---|---|---|
| Ali Abdo | Wrestling | Beijing 2008, Athens 2004, Sydney 2000 |
| Liam Adams | Athletics | Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 |
| Azizul Awang | Track cycling | Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 |
| Andris Blicavs | Basketball | Montreal 1976 |
| Aoife Coughlan | Judo | Tokyo 2020 |
| Eoin Coughlan | Judo | Rio 2016 |
| Luke Doerner | Hockey | Beijing 2008 |
| Ivo Dos Santos | Judo | London 2012 |
| Chris Erickson | Race walking | Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 |
| Jane Fleming | Athletics | Seoul 1988 |
| Sergei Evglevski | Shooting | Tokyo 2020 |
| Andew Gaze AM | Basketball | Seoul 1988, Los Angeles 1984, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 |
| Jarrod Gilchrist | Water polo | Rio 2016 |
| Shane Gould AM MBE | Swimming | Munich 1972 |
| Nicholas Heffernan | Fencing | Sydney 2000 |
| Dennis Iverson | Judo | Beijing 2008 |
| Rebecca Joyce | Rowing | Atlanta 1996 |
| Harry Laidlaw | Alpine skiing | PyeongChang 2018 |
| Tania Luiz | Badminton | Beijing 2008 |
| Mike McKay OAM | Rowing | Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 |
| Miao Miao | Table tennis | Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 |
| Morgan Mitchell | Athletics | Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 |
| Danny Morseu | Basketball | Los Angeles 1984, Moscow 1980 |
| Jim Nevin OAM | Cycling | Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956 |
| Kotuku Ngwati | Swimming | Rio 2016 |
| Lisa O'Keefe | Taekwondo | Sydney 2000 |
| Tarren Otte | Synchronised swimming | Beijing 2008, London 2012 |
| David Powell | Table Tennis | Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 |
| Michael Power | Athetlics | Sydney 2000 |
| Emily Rogers | Synchronised swimming | Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 |
| Campbell Rose AM | Sailing | Seoul 1988 |
| Larry Sengstock | Basketball | Moscow 1980, Seoul 1988, Los Angeles 1984, Barcelona 1992 |
| Ross Smith | Badminton | Beijing 2008, London 2012 |
| Gronya Somerville | Badminton | Tokyo 2020 |
| Heath Spence | Bobsleigh | Sochi 2014 |
| Rebecca Steele | Swimming | Sydney 2000 |
| Lara Sullivan | Judo | Atlanta 1996 |
| Rebecca Sullivan | Judo | Sydney 2000 |
| Renuga Veeran | Badminton | London 2012 |
| Erin Walklate (nee Carroll) | Badminton | Beijing 2008 |
| Peter Winter | Athletics | Atlanta 1996 |
| Casey Wright | Cross-country skiing | PyeongChang 2018 |
| Name | Sport | Olympic Games |
|---|---|---|
| Todd Hodgetts OAM | Para-athletics shot put (F20) | London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 |
| Josh Hose OAM | Wheelchair rugby | London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 |
| Daniela Di Toro | Para-tennis, Para-table tennis |
Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 |
| Ella Sabljac | Wheelchair basketball | Tokyo 2020 |
| Ellen Steele | Swimming | Sydney 2000 |
Andrew Gaze AM, Australia flag-bearer at 2000 Sydney Olympic Games
